We’re now into the final sixth of the Parliament sitting year and if that doesn’t get your heart rate up then the fact that there are just five weeks left in the House’s 2022 sitting schedule probably won’t either.
Christmas approaches all too quickly these days, and if the advertising is already grating, you might be reassured to know that Parliament’s busy legislative agenda continues with a semblance of normality (and without Christmas adverts). You could do worse than check it on Parliament TV.
Te Paati Māori MP Rawiri Waititi has a Member’s Bill this week vying for legislative change almost identical to a Government Bill that’s also up for debate this week. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
At the top of the order of Government Business for this week is the first reading of the Arms (Licence Holders' Applications for New Licences) Amendment Bill, which seeks to address delays in processing licence holders' applications for new firearms licences, and ensure firearms owners aren't penalised while their expired licence is being processed for renewal.
Next up MPs go into the committee stage of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill, an omnibus bill which implements the free trade deal signed with Great Britain and Northern Ireland in February. It’s then expected that Parliament will turn its attention to the second reading of the Government’s Electoral (Māori Electoral Option) Legislation Bill which would allow people to transfer between the Māori and general electoral rolls at nearly any time, and as many times as they wish. This Bill has been opposed by the National and ACT parties.
It’s unclear whether there will be time on Tuesday for first readings of both the Customs and Excise (Arrival Information) Amendment Bill and the Business Payment Practices Bill. The former would pave the way for clearer information obligations for incoming arrivals to help with customs-related border management including matters related to the collection of revenue and detection of restricted or prohibited goods. Tuesday’s agenda will continue into Thursday morning to polish off whatever is still to do.
Wednesday is a Member’s Day, when the second reading of Labour MP Ginny Anderson’s Crimes (Child Exploitation Offences) Amendment Bill will resume. The Bill, which has widespread support, provides for new offences relating to adults using electronic communications (such as social media platforms) to harm children and increases penalties for offences relating to the sexual grooming of children online.
Other Member’s Bills on the provisional order paper to be debated include Māori Party MP Rawiri Waititi’s Electoral (Right to Switch Rolls Freely) Amendment Bill, up for its first reading. As its name suggests, this Bill is very much like the Government Bill mentioned earlier in the article, and aims to enable transferral between the Māori and general electoral rolls at any time. A key difference is that the Government Bill wouldn’t allow people to switch during the period of a parliamentary by-election. Waititi’s Bill also seeks a name change from ‘general electoral roll’ to ‘non-Māori electoral roll’. Furthermore, it would mandate that Māori who don’t specify a roll when enrolling to vote be placed on the Māori roll.
Also on the order paper, the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) Amendment Bill in the name of Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick, is set for a first reading. The Bill is aimed at addressing a power imbalance between corporations and local communities which seek to develop public health measures around alcohol sale, and also implements a number of the recommendations of the 2014 Ministerial Forum on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorship, particularly towards ending alcohol advertising in sports and alcohol sponsorship for broadcast sports. A number of councils have passed motions supporting the Bill.
Thursday morning is an extended sitting carrying on the government bills from Tuesday). On Thursday afternoon MPs plan a special debate on the report from the Transport and Infrastructure Committee’s inquiry into congestion pricing in Auckland.
